Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-10


were will ny to speaks Judging by my own
experience, | should say decidedly not.n
"You don't mean that you have seen her
againF Agnes eagerly interposed.
Eyes, had half an hour to spare before |
dinner, and disturbed her once more over
her endless writing"
''And you told her what you found when |
you opened the hiding placei"
"Of course did," Henry replied. 81 said, |
in so many words, that held her responsible |
for the discovery, and that / expected her to |
reveal the whole truth She went on with |
her writing as if had spoken in an unknown
tongue. was equally obstinate on my side. |
l told her plainly that the head had been
placed under the care of the police, and that |
the manager and had signed our declara- |
lions and given our evidence. She paid not
the slightest heed to NE. By way of tempt
ing her to speak, added that the whole in
vestigation was to be kept secret, and that
she might depend on my discretion. For the
moment thought l had succeeded. She
looked up from her writing with a passing
fash of curiosity, and said: What are they
going to do with itn-meaning, / suppose, the
head. answered that it was to
be privately buried, after photographs
of it had been first taken. l even went the
length of communicating the opinion of the
surgeon consulted, that some chemical means
of arresiing decomposition had been used and
had only partially succeeded-and | asked
her point blank ii the surgeon was right.
The trap was not n bad one, but it completely
failed. She said in the coolest manner:
Now YOU are here should like to consult
you about my plays | am at a loss for some
new incident Mindl there was nothing
satirical III this She was really eager to
read her wonderful work to me-evidently
supposing that | took a special interest in
such things because my brother is the man
ager of u theatrel l left her, making the
| first excuse that occurred to me. So far as |
| am concerned | can do nothing with her.
But it is possible that your influence may sue
coed with her again, as it has succeeded al
ready. Will you make the attempt to sat
isfy your own mnd2 She is still upstairs;
and 1 am quite ready to accompany YOU"
| Agnes shuddered at the bare suggestion of
| another interview with the countess.
al can't! daren't!' she exclaimed after
what has happened III that horrible room, she
is more repellent to me than ever Don't ask
me TO do it, Henry Feel my hand-you have
turned me as cold as death only with talking
of it,"
She was not exaggerating the terror that
possessed her. Henry FASTENED to change
tine subject.
"Let us talk of something more interest
ing" he said. Il have question to ask you
about yourself. Am right in believing that
the sooner you get away from Venice the
happier you will be."
Right" she repeated, excitedly "You
are more than right No words can say how
l long to be away from this horrible place
But you know how | am situated-you heard
what Lord Montbarry said at dinner timer
Suppose he has altered his plans since
dinner timer Henry suggested
Agnes looked surprised. Il thought he
had received letters from England which
obliged him to leave Venice tomorrow" she
said
"Quite true" Henry admitted "He had
arranged to start for England tomorrow
and to leave you and Lady Montbarry and
the children to enjoy your holiday in Venice
under my care. Circumstances have oc.
CURED, however, which have forced him to
alter his plans. He must take you all back
with him tomorrow, because | am not able
to assume charge of you. am obliged to
give up my holiday in Italy, and return TO
England too
Agnes looked at him in some little perplex-
ity; she was not quite sure whether she under
stood him or not "Are you really obliged
to go backsH she asked.
Henry smiled as he answered her Keep
the secret" he said, "or Montbarry will never
forgive meln
She read the rest in his face "Oh," she ex-
claimed, blushing brightly, "you have not
given up your pleasant holiday in Italy on
my account"
u shall 60 back with you to England, Ag-
mes. That will be holiday enough for me'
She took his hand in an irrepressible out
burst of gratitude. "How good you are
to mel" sshe murmured tenderly What
should have done in the troubles that have
come to me, without your sympathy! can't
tell you, Henry, how l feel your kindness"
She tried impulsively to lift his hand to her
lips. He gently stopped her. agnes" he
said, "are YOU beginning TO understand how
! truly love your
That simple question found its own way to
her heart. She owned the whole truth, with
out saying word. She looked at hinl-and
then looked away again
, He drew her to his bosom MY own
darlmgh he whispered-and kissed her.
Softly and TREMENDOUSLY the sweet lips fingered,
and touched his lips in return Then her
head dropped. She put her arms round his
, neck, and hid her face in his bosom They
spoke no more.
The charmed silence had lasted but little
, while, when it was mercilessly broken by a
knock at the door
Agnes started to her Feet She placed her,
self at the piano; the instrument being oppo
site to the door, it was impossible, when she
seated herself on the music stool, for any
person entering the room to see her face.
Henry called out irritably. "Come inn
The door was not opened The person on
the other side asked a strange question:
as Mr. Henry Westwick alonep
Agnes instantly recognized the voice of the
countess. She hurried to a second door
which communicated with one of the bed
rooms. Don't let her come near mel" she
whispered, nervously Good night, Henry
good nightIn
If Henry could, by an effort of will, have
transported the countess to the uttermost
ends of the earth he would have made the
effort without remorse. As it was, he only
repeated, more irritably than ever, "Come
inir
She entered the room slowly with her
everlasting manuscript in her hand. Her
step was unsteady; dark flush appeared Oh
her face in place of its customary pallor; her
eyes were bloodshot and widely dilated. IL
approaching Henry she showed a strange in
capability of calculating her distances-she
] struck against the table near which he hap
pened to be sitting When she spoke bel
articulation was confused. and her pronun
citation of some of the longer words wa
hardly ineligible. Most men would hav,
} suspected her OF being under the influence
of some intoxicating liquor Henry took ,
truer view-he said, as he placed chair TO
/ her, Countess, l am afraid you have beei
} working too hard; you look as if you wanted
rest.n
| She put her hand to her head
: my invention is gomez she said 81 can
write my fourth act It's all blank-all
: blankin
| Henry advised her to wait till the next day
, ''Go to bed, he suggested, land try an
: sleep"
: She waved her hand impatiently.
: Il must finish the play" she answered. Is
? only want hint from you. You mus
, know something about plays, Your brothe
5 has got a theatre. You must often hav
. heard him talk about fourth and fifth acts
: you must have seen rehearsals, and all til
rest of itn She abrl1ptly thrust the mann